Neymar will forever be remembered as one of football’s most controversial figures. Despite the criticisms, his statistics are remarkably competitive when compared to other modern greats.
He was already recognized as an international player for Brazil at the tender age of 18, fulfilling expectations as the heir apparent to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Back then, the world was just beginning to get to know this prodigious talent from Santos, sporting a distinctive mohawk.
Since then, Neymar has embarked on an extraordinary journey, moving to Barcelona and reaching the pinnacle of the sport alongside Messi. Later, he left the team in a bid to carve his own path, but he has struggled to fully meet the enormous expectations that came with his record-breaking £200 million transfer fee.
The striker has encountered various challenges in his international career.
Despite becoming Brazil’s top scorer with 79 goals from 128 appearances, Neymar has faced setbacks, including an injury during the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup in his home country and a failure to secure another title with the Selecao after the 2013 Confederations Cup.
Opinions about him remain divided. The statistics are clear, and so is the evidence from his performances on the field. While he may not have exceeded all expectations or reached the lofty heights anticipated, Neymar did achieve many milestones during his prime years.
His explosive entry into professional football initially sparked excitement.
Now 32 years old, sidelined from the 2024 Copa America due to injury and playing for a club in Saudi Arabia, this summer seems to mark a transition, with Vinicius Junior emerging.
Neymar has faced intense scrutiny, but Vinicius Junior also encountered challenges early in his career.
After joining Real Madrid shortly after making his first-team debut at 16 with Flamengo, the weight of representing such a prestigious club and the substantial £38 million transfer fee visibly affected the young player during his early years in Europe.
Nevertheless, after overcoming initial challenges, the forward is now flourishing and is poised to clinch his first Ballon d’Or – an honor many anticipated Neymar would take from Ronaldo and Messi.
While Neymar achieved early successes with the Selecao, including Olympic silver and a Confederations Cup victory, Vinicius Junior has yet to achieve such milestones at the senior level since his debut in 2019, still awaiting his first major accolade with Brazil.
It’s almost as if Neymar paved the way for Vinicius Junior’s potential. However one interprets their careers, comparing Neymar’s statistics for Brazil by age 23 to those of Vinicius Junior now, also 23 and on the brink of a major tournament, is quite revealing.
This comparison underscores Neymar’s possibly underappreciated status, considering his early dominance both domestically and internationally.
We’ve examined Neymar’s significant statistics for Brazil from his debut until he turned 23 and compared them with Vinicius Junior’s current stats, as he approaches his 24th birthday during the Copa America.
This comparison shows that while Vinicius has made an impressive start with his club, his international exposure and impact are not yet on the same level.
Without participating in the now-discontinued Confederations Cup or featuring in the Olympics for Brazil, his lower number of caps also reflects less dependency on him, not to mention his fewer goals and assists.
However, this summer could provide an opportunity for him to shine in a new light, should he lead Brazil to success in the Copa America or deliver standout performances individually following an exceptional club season.
Neymar for Brazil by age 23
Caps: 67
Goals: 46
Assists: 25
Honours: Olympic silver medal, 2013 Confederations Cup
Vinicius Junior for Brazil by age 23
Caps: 30
Goals: 3
Assists: 5
Honours: N/A